In Act 5 Scene 2 in Macbeth, written by Shakespeare, Lenox, Menteith, Caithness, and Angus, the four lords of Scotland, are discussing Macbeth’s deeds and behavior. As a result of his heinous acts, they decide to join Malcolm and his English forces, waiting in Birnam Woods, to fight Macbeth at Dunsinane. Through metaphors, Lenox, Menteith, Caithness, and Angus depict their wish to make Malcolm the legitimate king by executing Macbeth, signifying their loyalty, a prevalent theme, to the rightful king of Scotland.
Relating to the motif of clothes, Angus’ simile describes the men’s perception of their King of Scotland, for whom the lords of Scotland have lost faith in. Contrasting from when Macbeth was a respected war hero in the eyes of the civilians in Scotland, “now does he feel his title/ Hang loose about him, like a giant's robe/ Upon a
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While Lennox, Menteith, Caithness, and Angus are on their way “towards Birnam” to join the rightful king, Lennox reveals the purpose of their mission, which is “to dew the sovereign flower and drown the weeds”(5.2.37, 5.2.36). This imagery of nature portrays Macbeth’s dictatorship as the “weeds” that need to “drown” for the “sovereign flower,” Malcolm, to take control of Scotland. In addition, Caithness depicts him loyalty toward Malcolm by revealing his intentions of “pour[ing] we in our country’s purge/ each drop of us” when they “meet the medicine of the sickly weal” (5.2.32.34). By giving their all to defeat the ruthless, tyrannical, insane king of Scotland, Macbeth, Malcolm will not only be rightfully crowned king, but will also restore Scotland from the chaos. Although this conversation between Lenox, Menteith, Caithness, and Angus may seem trivial in Macbeth, it represents the point of view of those in Scotland, who are loyal to Malcolm and have lost faith in